Helicopter Services on the Himalayan Char Dham Yatra route in Uttarakhand have been suspended today and tomorrow by the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, Pushkar Singh Dhami.
After the fifth accident of helicopter today on the Char Dham Yatra route, the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand has ordered the suspension of helicopter services to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.
Today on June 15, 2025, in the morning around 5:35 am, a helicopter took off from the helipad in Kedarnath carrying six passengers to Guptkashi. While in the flight, all of a sudden this helicopter went missing on the radar. Later after sometime, the ladies in the bugiyal near Triyuginarayan reported over WhatsApp call the burnt debris of the helicopter with the deadbodies of the passengers and the pilot.
This is the fourth accident in this valley during this season and the fifth on the Char Dham Yatra route. The previous helicopter crash took place near Uttarkashi which was carrying passengers to Gangotri. All the passengers were dead except a male pilgrim. The other three have been crash landings with no casualties of the pilgrims.
The Government of Uttarakhand has announced to suspend the helicopter services on the entire Char Dham Yatra route till June 16, 2025. The Chief Minister of Uttarakhand has instructed the nodal agencies such as UCADA and DGCA to draft the Standard Operating Procedures and reinforce the same before resuming the operations. The CM has also guided the companies to employ the pilots with enough experience of high altitude mountain flying for this route. A control and commanding centre should also be established in Uttarakhand to monitor these flights. The CM has ordered strict action against those who do not comply with the SOP’s of UCADA.
What does this mean for the pilgrims?
The divinity of visit to Kedarnath lies in its journey which makes it remarkable and memorable for a whole lifetime to cherish. It is this journey which humbles the pilgrim and purifies the consciousness before approaching Lord Shiva. It is this journey which creates endless memories for the pilgrim to be cherished for a lifetime.
Pilgrims are advised to travel to Kedarnath before the age of fifty to undergo this journey of life. If not, one must take up doli or pony. The mood of tapasya is essential to really complete this pilgrimage. The pilgrims must therefore avoid taking up helicopter services in Kedarnath and self-restrain oneself from comfort. Dependence and surrender is the original benefit of this pilgrimage.
Kedarnath is a tirtha kshetra, the holiest of all the places and one of the jyotirlingas. The spiritual sanctity of such places must be protected and preserved. Of course minimum facilities are required, but not to the extent of breaking records of people visiting it year after year. When will we learn it? I hope it is not too late.
Kedarnath is not for reels. It is REAL. Har Har Kedar
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